"Slow Motions helps resolve the conflict between the Old Indian
and Margie."
_______
The phone rang. It was Mrs. Johnson. There's a woman at the
gate claiming to be your wife, she said.
What now? said Slow Motion.
When Slow Motion saw her he recognized her to be Margie, the
shaman woman who had appeared in his dorm room seeking
the old Indian who had been his mentor for many years.
Leave us alone for a while, said Slow Motion, and those who had
gathered around dispersed.
What do you want? asked Slow Motion of the woman. You have
the power to pass through these gates and enter my room, why
the act?
I wanted to get your attention.
Well, you've got it. What do you want?
You have to speak to him. He made a promise and now he's
backing out of it.
To marry you?
Yes.
Why is this so important? asked Slow Motion pulling her aside
as if someone was listening in on their conversation.
It has to do with a bit of property I own. You see, my mother left it
to me if only I found myself a husband. If not, the property would
go to my brother, who would sell it. I want it to remain in the
family.
So, the Old Man agreed to marry you so you'd keep this property
-- in return for what?
In return for teaching him Insect Magic. Which I did. He can now
turn into any insect he likes. Trouble is, I left one little detail out of
our deal.
And that is?
My mother is not dead yet, I told him she was dead. And she
probably won't be dead for a very long time. She's a very healthy
woman.
You should have told him the truth.
He wouldn't have married me!!
Well, he now has what he wanted, but, you're left high and dry.
How can I persuade him that he has to live up to his word?
Tell him that the Insect Magic will turn on him and something
bad will happen if he doesn't go through with it.
Where do I reach him?
He is here. He won't leave. He seeks your company now that all
has gone haywire.
Okay, I'll keep an eye out for him.
Thank you. The fat woman turned and got into a car, then she
drove off. It was amazing to Slow Motion how so fat a woman
could fit into so little a car. Then he realized it was impossible for
her to fit into such a small car, and that something weird was
truly happening.
________
All that day, Slow Motion kept alert for any sign of movement,
however small.
Mrs. Johnson looked across the cafeteria table at the Indian. You
look distracted. What's wrong? she asked. Then she smashed
down on the table with her fist.
What did you just do? Slow Motion screamed.
I killed an ant, she said. There's been an infestation here lately.
It's no big deal, why have you turned white? You look like you've
seen a ghost.
Another person smashed an ant, then another.
Excuse me, I have to go, he said, then left the cafeteria.
_______
Slow Motion ran into Rawhide in the corridor. Rawhide, said
Slow Motion, just the man I wanted to talk to. He grabbed the big
man by the shoulders. Have you ever heard of Insect Magic?
Don't believe I have, said the cowboy, does this have anything to
do with your religion?
Yes! You have to announce to the whole Institute that no one is to
kill any insects whatsoever.
I don't understand. Don't you know we have an ant infestation?
Just do it!!! Slow Motion ran out of the building and carefully tread
on the soil outside so as to not step on anything. This is crazy,
he was saying to himself. This is nuts. I can't go around all the
time walking on eggshells as it were. Where are you, you old
fart?
There was laughter to his right. He saw no one but ran into the
woods anyway. There was more laughter. It was all around him.
Then, Rawhide's voice on the speaker system ...
"Uhhh ... is this thing on? ... Uhhh, hi, this is Rawhide. Slow
Motion has requested that no one please kill any insects for the
time being. So, please, people, let's act like Hindus for a while
here and not crush or smash or maim or kill anything that creeps
or crawls or lands on you. This would be much appreciated ..."
It was then that the hornet appeared and went straight for Slow
Motion. He moved away but it seemed to follow him. Tempted to
beat it to a pulp he was, but he held back his anger. It
transformed into the old Indian before his very eyes.
She lied to me. I won't marry her. That big fat witch!!
You have to, said Slow Motion, or she said bad things would
happen.
Ha! Like what? said the old Indian. It was then that the net was
dropped over his head. Slow Motion watched as the old man
became the hornet again and fell to the ground. I've got it, said a
Ninja. He was about to stomp on the insect!!
No! yelled Slow Motion.
Why not? asked the Ninja. It's a dangerous insect.
It's my grandfather! said Slow Motion.
Man, are you nuts? said the Ninja.
Set it free, NOW!!!
Okay, if you say so, said the Ninja, lifting the net, and they
watched as the insect flew off.
Slow Motion breathed a sigh of relief.
_______
Back in the main building Mrs. Johnson handed a phone to Slow
Motion. It's your wife.
My wife, ha! said Slow Motion. Hello?
Thank you, said the voice of Margie. Whatever it was you said
convinced him. I don't think you'll be seeing him for a while to
come.
That's good, said Slow Motion.
He's under the impression that he'll die if he doesn't marry me,
she said, how'd you give him that impression?
It wasn't me, said Slow Motion. It just happened that way. I think
the Great Spirit had it arranged.
Well, fear of dying is good, she said. Well, whatever works, right?
Bye.
Bye. Slow Motion hung up the phone. It amazed Slow Motion that
such amazing battles could be fought in people's backyards
without them even realizing it. It was then that he realized that the
old man had never taught him to be anything but a pain in the
ass, yet somehow had taught him how to SEE these battles,
while everyone else remained oblivious to them. How he had
done this, Slow Motion might never know ...
The battles would subside for now, the Old Man would be
distracted by married life, but, it was only a matter of time before
they started up again.
